Members of the NYPD joined forces with Microsoft to create the tool, which will help police officers speedily respond to threats by retrieving pertinent crime information from cameras, license-plate readers, environmental sensors and law-enforcement databases.

"Part of the reason we have been able to continue driving down crime to
record lows while devoting considerable resources to counter-terrorism
is our heavy investment in technology and our willingness to develop
new, cutting-edge solutions to keep New Yorkers safe," said Mayor
Bloomberg, during Wednesday's announcement at the NYPD's Security Initiative Headquarters in Lower Manhattan.

The state-of-the-art system will provide investigators with immediate access to a suspect's arrest records, 911 calls associated with the suspect and any information about related crimes occurring in a given area.

Officers can also track a suspect's car and map criminal history geographically and chronologically to reveal crime patterns.

What's more, if a suspicious package is left in a certain location, the NYPD can immediately tap into video feeds and look back in time in an effort to determine who left it there.

The Domain Awareness System will alert authorities when radiation detectors are set off in the field, and help identify whether the radioactive material is naturally occurring, a weapon or a harmless isotope used in medical treatments.

"The system is a transformative tool because it was created by police officers for police officers," said Kelly. "Its development is a testament to the talent and experience of our officers. And this agreement with Microsoft will allow the NYPD to continue to fund innovative counter-terrorism and crime-prevention programs."

Microsoft will pay the city 30 percent of its gross profits from the sale of the system to other customers worldwide and that money will help support other such programs.

"The NYPD is a respected leader and continuously innovating to ensure
the safety of their citizens. It is a privilege to support their work
with our technology and professional services," said Kathleen Hogan, corporate vice president of Microsoft services.

The New York Observer decried the program as a "creepy surveillance system." City officials say such surveillance is not overly intrusive and is critical to safeguarding the city.